Closure-applying apparatus



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 8, 1952 INVENTOR. Anlwr- C. Eve/ & BY

HTTOR/VEV March 29, 1955 A. c. EVERETT 2,705,101

CLOSURE-APPLYING APPARATUS Filed March 8, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

A TTOR/VEV March 29, 1955 A. c. EVERETT CLOSURE-APPLYING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 8, 1952 INVENTOR. x d ASK 77 BY United States Patent CLOS URE-APPLYIN G APPARATUS Arthur C. Everett, Wollaston, Mass., assignor to Pneumatic Scale Corporation, Limited, Quincy, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 8, 1952, Serial No. 275,610

12 Claims. (Cl. 226-88) This invention relates to closure-applying apparatus.

The invention has for an object to provide novel and improved closure-applying apparatus for applying screw closures to containers and which is characterized by novel closure-gripping and applying mechanism particularly adapted for handling fragile closures in a gentle and superior manner such as to avoid breakage of the fragile closures and to prevent marring the finished surfaces thereof.

With this general object in view, and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the closure-applying apparatus, and in the various structures,

arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. l is a vertical sectional view illustrating the present closure-applying apparatus; Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the upper portion of one of the closure-applying mechanisms; Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the same; and Fig. 4 is a detail view in cross section of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3 with the parts shown in operative engagement with a closure.

In general, the present invention contemplates novel closure-applying apparatus having closure-applying mechanism comprising a plurality of closure-applying heads provided with chucks adapted to grip and apply screw closures to successive containers, such as bottles, in a gentle and positive manner whereby to reduce to a minimum liability of breakage of fragile closures, such as thin plastic closures, and whereby to prevent marring of the surface of the closures. The present closure-applying mechanism is herein illustrated as embodied in an-automatic closure-applying machine of the type illustrated and described in the United States patent to Arthur C. Everett, No. 2,082,048. In accordance with the present invention, the cap-gripping element may and preferably will comprise an annular collar of resilient compressible material, such as rubber or the like, arranged to fit about the closure, and provision is made for applying pressure to the resilient collar to cause the same to grip the closure. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the pressure-applying means may and preferably will be pneumatically operated and controlled to provide a positive and uniform grip on the closure while the same is rotated to effect application of the closure to the container.

Provision is also made in the preferred embodiment of the invention for flexibly and resiliently mounting the chuck or gripping-element spindle to impart a universal floating and centralizing action in order to compensate for any irregularity in either the closure or the container.

Referring now to the drawings, the invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine for applying screw closures to containers, such as bottles, only a suflicient portion of the machine being herein illustrated to enable the invention to be understood. The construction and mode of operation of the closure-applying machine, except as hereinafter pointed out, .may comprise that disclosed in the Everett patent, No. 2,082,048 above referred to and to which reference may be made, and his believed to be suificient to state that in the operation 'of such a closure-applying machine the containers, such as bottles, are conveyed into closure-applying position by suitable conveying mechanism, and provision is made for automatically feeding the closures into a position .to be operatively engaged by the closure-gripping and applying mechanism. Provision is also made for relatively moving the applying mechanism and the container to bring the closure into engagement with the threaded neck of the container and for rotating the chuck or closure-gripping element to effect the application of the screw closure to the container. 1

As illustrated in Fig. l, a plurality of closure-applying heads, indicated generally at 10, are mounted to revolve about a central stationary supporting shaft 12, each closure-applying head including a chuck housing 14 mounted for rotation and vertical reciprocation in a cylindrical casing 16. The lower end of each casing 16 is secured by bolts 18 to a supporting ring 20 which in turn is attached by bolts 22 to a flanged member 24 keyed to an elongated sleeve 26 provided with a bushing 28, the sleeve 26 being rotated about the stationary central shaft 12 through any usual or preferred driving means,'such as that shown in the Everett patent, No. 2,082,048.

The upper end of each casing 16 may be attached by bolts 29 to a cylindrical bracket 30, a plurality of which are radially arranged about a spider 32 to which the brackets are secured by bolts 34. The spider 32 is provided with suitable bushings and is mounted to rotate about the central supporting shaft 12. The closure-applying heads 10 are thus revolved about the central shaft 12, it being understood that the containers to be provided with closures are being conveyed in alignment with the closure-applying heads, and provision is made for lowering and raising the chuck housings 14 into and out of closure-applying engagement with the containers during such movement. As herein shown, each chuck housing is provided with a cam roll 38 carried by a collar 40 cooperating with a grooved portion of the housing 14, the cam roll 38 being extended through a slot in the casing 16 and arranged to cooperate with a cam path formed in a stationary cam 42 secured by bolts 43 to a flange 44 keyed to the central shaft 12. Each chuck housing 14 is also arranged to be rotated about its own axis during its movement in a circular path, and as herein shown, the upper end of each housing is provided with an elongated pinion 46 fast thereon meshing with a ring gear 48 keyed to the central shaft 12. Thus, in operation, the chuck housing 14 is reciprocated vertically and also rotated on its own axis during its movement in a circular path.

Referring now to Fig. 3, each chuck or gripping element, indicated generally at 50, includes a resilient ring 52 snugly fitted into the lower end of a cup-shaped holder 54'which is screwed into a threaded cap member 56 having an upstanding threaded reduced portion 57 screwed into the lower end of a spindle 58. The holder 54 is provided with a tapered opening 59 for admitting a closure 60, and the inside diameter of the resilient ring 52 when in its uncompressed condition may and preferably will be such as to fit about the outside diameter of the closurefto be applied, as shown in Fig. 3. A pressure-applying or compression disk 62 having an annular depending projection 64 is disposed in the holder above the resilient ring 52, and in operation, the compression disk 62 is arranged to be forced downwardly into compressive'engagement with the ring through pneumatic means to .be hereinafter described to cause the resilient ring to be compressed into gripping engagement with the closure as illustrated in Fig. 4. v

The spindle 58 is arranged to rotate with and slide vertically in a friction housing 66 operatively connected to the spindle by a friction clutch, indicated generally at 68, and the spindle is provided with a conical surface 70 adjacent its lower end arranged to fit into a correspondingly shaped seat formed in a retaining member 72 attached to the lower end of the chuck housing by screws 74. The spindle is normally urged downwardly into engagement with the seat in the retaining member 72 by a coiled spring 76 received in a socket formed in the upper end of the spindle, the other end of the spring bearing against a plug 78 secured in the upper end of the friction housing 66. Thus, in operation, when the rotating chuck is lowered to present a closure in engagement with the top of the container, the spindle may yield relative to its retaining member 72, as indicated in Fig. 4, so that the spindle is free to move downwardly with the container.

the screw closure as the latter is applied to the container during the rotation of the chuck.

The friction clutch 68 is arranged to be adjusted to enable the spindle 58 to slip relative to the friction housing 66 when a screw closure has been applied to the container with the desired degree of tightness, and as herein shown, the friction clutch comprises a driven element 80 having a hub portion keyed to the spindle in a manner such as to permit vertical movement thereof relative to the friction housing, and a flanged portion 82 engaged by upper and lower friction washers 84, 86 supported in the friction housing 66, the lower washer 86 hearing against a friction ring 87, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. A pressure ring 88- is arranged to bear against the upper friction washer 84 and is provided with a plurality of upstanding pins 90 extended through openings in the shouldered portion 92 of the friction housing. The upper ends of the pins 90 engage the underside of a flanged spring sleeve 94 mounted to slide on the friction housing, and a coil spring 96 is interposed between the sleeve 94 and an adjustable nut 98 screwed onto a threaded portion of the friction housing 66. A set screw 100 may be provided to lock the nut in position when adjustment is made to obtain the desired friction between the friction washers 84, 86 and the driven element 80. It will thus be seen that by adjusting the nut 98 the closure .60 may be screwed on the container 61 with any desired degree of tightness.

The friction housing 66 is operatively connected to rotate with the chuck housing 14 through a resilient flexible connection enabling a slight pivotal or flexing movement from the upper end of the friction housing whereby to permit a slight lateral compensating movement of the lower end of the chuck unit to conform to any slight lack of alignment of the closure with the neck of As herein shown, the upper end of the friction housing 66 is provided with a resilient rubber clamping ring 102 fitted into a grooved. portion thereof. The ring 102 is snugly fitted and supported in a socket member 104 and is arranged to be compressed and clamped into tight-fitting relation about the grooved portion of the friction housing by a pressure ring 106 threadedly engaged with the socket member 104 and arranged to bear against the undersurface of the resilient ring, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Thus, in operation, the chuck-carrying unit including the spindle 58 and the friction housing 66 is capable of angular flexing out of alignment with the axis of rotation of the housing 14.

The socket member 104 is provided with a shouldered .portion 108 arranged to bear against a corresponding shouldered portion of the chuck housing 14, and the socket member is further provided with an upstanding reduced-diameter portion 110 extended into a central bore vformed in the chuck housing. A reduced-diameter threaded portion 112 extended from the upstanding portion 110 is arranged to be received in an internally threaded portion formed in the lower end of an elongated rod 114 extended into the upper end of the central bore. The rod 114 is provided with a shouldered portion 116 arranged to bear against the top of the chuck housing, as shown in Fig. 1. Thus, the rod 114 and the socket member 104 when screwed together as illustrated in Fig.

3 serve to clamp the closure-applying unit to the chuckhousing 14 for rotation therewith. The upper end of the elongated rod 114 is slidingly and rotatably fitted in a bushing 11.8 fast in the bracket 30 and forms a part of the pneumatic control mechanism for effecting compression of the resilient gripping ring 52 to grip a closure, as

will now be described.

As herein illustrated, provision is made for applying air pressure to the chamber above the pressure-applying disk 62 through suitable conduits in the connecting elements arranged to maintain communication with the V compressed-air supply during the rotation and reciprocation of the chuck elements, and provision is also made for controlling the air pressure by means of a cam-operated valve, indicated generally at 120, to effect gripping of a closure to be applied and to thereafter release the I closure after the same has been applied to the container. As herein shown, a supply pipe 122 leading from any suitable source of compressed air is connected to a stationary bracket 124 keyed to the shaft 12 and having an opening in communication with a vertical bore 126 in the central.

supporting shaft 12. The lower end of the bore 126 communicates with horizontal radially arranged passageways 128 in the spider 32 through openings formed in a collar 130 fitted in the spider 32. The collar 130 is supported between sealing rings 132, 134, the lower ring 132 engaging the top of a bushing 136 provided in the spider 32 and the upper ring 134 being engaged by a flange member 138 slidingly mounted on the shaft 12. The flange member 138 is maintained in compressive engagement with its sealing ring by a coil spring 140 interposed between the flange 138 and a retaining cap 142 secured to the top of the spider by screws 144.

As illustrated in detail in Fig. 2, each radial passageway 128 is arranged to communicate with its individual capping head 10 through aligned ports 146, 148 arranged to be opened and closed by the valve unit 120. The port 148 communicates with an annular groove 158 and openings 152 formed in the bushing 118 to admit the air into an annular space 154 formed between the interior of the bushing and a sleeve member 156 secured to a reduced'diameter portion 158 at the upper end of the vertically reciprocated and rotated rod 114. As indicated in Fig. 2, the air is trapped in the annular space 154 between upper and lower sealing washers 160, 162 disposed above and below the sleeve 156. A collar 164 is placed on top of the upper washers 168, and the parts are retained in assembled relation by a Washer 166 and nut 168 attached to the upper end of the rod 114. As indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, the annular space 154 communicates with a central passageway 170 in the rod 114 through aligned openings 172, 174 in the sleeve 156 and portion 158 of the rod 114 respectively, and as shown in Fig. 3, the passageway 170 is in alignment with a central bore 175 in the socket member 104 terminating in a conical chamber 176 sealed by the resilient ring 102 supporting the friction housing 66. The air then passes through a vertical passageway 178 formed in the friction housing 66, the lower end of the passageway 178 communicating with an elongated grooved passageway 180 formed in the spindle. The lower end of the grooved passageway 180 communicates with an opening 182 leading to a central bore 184 in the spindle, between sealing rings 183, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3, and the bore 184 is in alignment with a central opening 186 formed in the detachably secured cap member 56 which communicates with the chamber above the compression disk 62. Thus, in the operation of the apparatus, when the valve unit 120 is in its open position, as shown in Fig. 2, the resilient rubber gripping member 52 is compressed to grip and hold a closure presented thereto to be applied to a container, the passageways permitting the air to follow the path defined irrespective of the vertical position of the chuck housing and associated parts carried thereby during the reciprocation and rotation of the same to apply a closure.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the cam-operated valve unit 120 includes a vertically reciprocal member 188 mounted in a bore 190 in the bracket 30. The upper end of the member 188 is provided with a cam roll 192 for cooperation with a stationary cam 194 adjustably supported in a flange member 196 keyed to the central shaft 12. The lower end of the member 188 is arranged to engage the uppersnrface of an inverted cup-shaped upper valve member 198 maintained in adjustably spaced relation to an opposed or lower cup-shaped valve member 200 by a spring-pressed stud 202, and a coil spring 204 interposed between the lower valve member 200 and a portion of the casing 16 serves to urge the valve unit upwardly and to maintain the cam roll 192 in engagement with the cam 194. As herein shown, the stud 202 is provided with a head 206 in engagement with the underside of the valvemember 198, the stern of the stud supporting a spring 208 interposed between the underside of the head 206 and a washer 210 bearing against the lower valve member 200. The stem of the stud extends through the lower valve member 200 and through a washer 212,

- the parts being held in assembled relation by a nut 214. The cylindrical space between the upper and lower valve below the port 148 to permit the air in the chuck unit to be exhausted through the port 148, an opening 149,

port 216 and under the lower valve member 2.00 into a chamber formed by the bore .190. The bore 191) communicates with a radial passageway .218 formed in the spider 32 which leads to an annular groove and openings 220 formed in the bushing 136, the openings 220 communicatmg with a second vertical passageway 222 formed in the shaft 12. The upper end of the Shaft 12 vis provrded with a vent member 224 fixed therein and in communication with the exhaust passageway .222.

In the operation of the illustrated apparatus, the continuously rotated closure-applying unit is first lowered about a closure presented in operative relation thereto, and the cam 194 is designed to effect opening of the valve 120 to pneumatically compress the resilient ring 52 about the closure. The applying unit is then elevated and again lowered to present the closure into .engagement with the top .of the container, the spindle being elevated relative to the housing 14 when the closure engages the top of the container, and continued rotation of the unit effects application of the screw closure to the threaded neck of the container. When the closure has been applied to the desired degree of tightness, the friction clutch 68 permits slipping of the chuck spindle relative to the friction housing 66, and thereafter the cam 194 effects closing of the valve ports 146, 148 and opening of the exhaust port 216 to permit escape of the air from the closure-applying unit and release of the closure whereupon the unit is again elevated to permit the closed container to be delivered from the machine.

From the above description it will be seen that the present closure-applying mechanism embodying a chuck having a resilient gripping element arranged to be pneumatically compressed into gripping engagement with a closure is enabled to grip andapply a closure in a gentle and uniform manner whereby to avoid marring the finish or surface of the closure and to prevent breaking of fragile closures. It will also be seen that the resilient mounting of the upper portion of the chuck-carrying spindle enables the closure-applying unit to swing laterally a slight distance to provide a universal floating action when a closure engages the top of a slightly misaligned container in order to compensate for such lack of alignment and to successfully effect application of the screw closure to the threaded neck of the container.

As used throughout the specification and claims, the term screw closures is intended to define and include the various types of closures including T-shaped stoppers, which are used in closing bottles and similar containers. The term is also intended to include those interrupted thread closures which are used for closing certain other types of containers. In the application of all of these types of closures to containers it is of advantage that the containers be given a rotary or twisting movement during their application to the containers.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. Closure-applying mechanism for applying closures to containers comprising, a chuck having an annular resilient rubberlike gripping element confined therein against radially outward expansion, means mounting said chuck for rotation substantially about the axis of said annular element, said element being arranged to receive an axially positioned closure therein, and relatively movable means engaging the axial end surfaces of said element for compressing the resilient element radially inwardly into gripping and driving engagement with the closure.

2. Closure-applying mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said relatively movable means comprises a disk having an annular rib of less radial dimension than said gripping element, said rib engaging one of said axial end surfaces of said element.

3. Closure-applying mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said relatively movable means comprises a disk having an annular rib of less radial dimension than said gripping element, said rib engaging one of said axial end surfaces of said element, said disk comprising a movable wall of an expansible chamber, and means for admitting compressed air to said chamber for pressing said disk against said element to compress the same.

4. Closure-applying mechanism for applying closures to containers comprising a rotary housing, a ch ck-carrying member provided with a chuck and operatively connected to said housing to rotate therewith, the connect1on between the housing and the member including a resilient collar clamped about the upper end of said member to allow angular flexing of the member out of alignment with the axis of rotation of the housing to compensate for slight misalignment of a container with a closure carried by said chuck.

5. Closure-applying mechanism for applying closures to containers comprising a rotary housing, a chuckcarrying member provided with a chuck and operatively connected to said housing to rotate therewith, said chuck being mounted for vertical movement with relation to the member, the connection, between the housing and the member including a resilient clamping ring secured about the upper end of said member permitting angular flexing of the member out of alignment with the axis of rotation of the housing to compensate for slight misalignment of a container with a closure carried by said chuck. r

6. Closure-applying mechanism for applying closures to containers comprising a rotary housing, a chuck-carrying spindle provided with a chuck and operatively connected to rotate with the housing, said spindle being mounted for vertical movement with relation to the housing, the connection between the housing and the spindle including a member supporting said spindle for vertical movement and a resilient rubberlike clamping ring secured about the upper end of said member and to said housing permitting angular flexing of the spindle and member out of alignment with the axis of rotation of the housing to compensate for slight misalignment of a container with a closure carried by said chuck, said connection also including a friction clutch permitting rotary slipping of the spindle relative to the member when the torque applied to said spindle exceeds a predetermined value.

7. Closure-applying mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein the chuck comprises an annular resilient rubberlike gripping element arranged to receive a closure, and means engageable with the upper surface of the element for compressing the resilient element into gripping engagement with the closure.

8. Closure-applying mechanism as defined in claim 6 wherein the chuck comprises an annular resilient rubberlike gripping element having an opening of a size to fit about the periphery of a closure, and pneumatically operated means including a disk engageable with the upper surface of said element for compressing the resilient element to effect contraction of the walls of said opening into gripping engagement with the closure.

9. Closure-applying mechanism for applying screw closures to containers comprising a rotary housing, a spindle operatively connected to rotate with said housing, and a chuck carried by said spindle comprising a holder, an annular resilient rubberlike gripping element having an opening of a size to fit about the periphery of a closure and supported in the holder, said holder restraining the resilient element from outward expansion when compressed, a compressing disk having an annular projection engageable with the upper surface of said resilient element and defining with said holder an air chamber above the disk, a compressed-air line communicating with said chamber for admitting air to the chamber to urge the disk into compressing engagement with said resilient element to effect contraction of the walls of said opening for gripping of a closure.

10. Closure-applying mechanism for applying screw closures to containers comprising a rotary housing, a spindle operatively connected to rotate with said housing, and a chuck carried by said spindle comprising a holder, an annular resilient rubberlike gripping element having an opening of a size to fit about the periphery of a closure and supported in the holder, said holder restraining the resilient element from outward expansion when compressed, a compressing disk having an annular projection engageable with the upper surface of said resilient element and defining with said holder an air chamber above the disk, a compressed-air line communicating with said chamber for admitting air to the chamber to urge the disk into compressing engagement with said resilient element to effect contraction of the walls of said opening for gripping of a closure, and

means for venting said chamber to permit retraction of said gripping element and release of the closure.

11. Closure-applying mechanism for applying screw closures to containers comprising a rotary housing, a spindle operatively connected to rotate with said housing, and a chuck carried by said spindle comprising a holder, an annular resilient rubberlike gripping element having an opening of a size to fit about the periphery of a closure and supported in the holder, said holder re straining the resilient element from outward expansion when compressed, a compressing disk'having an annular projection engageable with the upper surface of said resilient element and defining with said holder an air chamber above the disk, a compressed-air line communicating with said chamber for admitting air to the chamber to urge the disk into compressing engagement with said resilient element to effect contraction of the walls of said opening for gripping of a closure, and means for venting said chamber to permit retraction of said gripping element and release of the closure, and a valve in said air line arranged to be closed to cut oil the air to the chamber and to open the chamber to said venting means.

12. Closure-applying mechanism for applying screw closures to containers comprising a rotary housing arranged to be vertically reciprocated into and out of closure-receiving and closure-applying position, a spindle, means for rotating the spindle including a friction clutch comprising a driving member flexibly connected to said housing and a driven member connected to said spin 8 die, said spindle being mounted for vertical movement relative to said friction clutch, a chuck carried by said spindle comprising a holder, an annular resilient rubberlike element carried by and confined from lateral expansion in said holder, said resilient element having'an opening of a size to fit over a closure, a compressing disk having an annular projection engageable with the upper surface of said resilient element and forming with said holder an air chamber above said disk, an air line including passageways formed in said spindle communicating with said chamber for urging the disk into compressing engagement to eifect contraction of the walls of said opening for gripping of a closure, and a valve in said air line arranged to be closed to cut off the air to the chamber and to open the chamber to the atmosphere to permit retraction of said gripping element and release of the closure when the latter has been fully applied to a container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,367,663 Kaye Feb. 8, 1921 1,569,948 Calleson Jan. 19, 1926 1,691,718 Huntley Nov. 13, 1928 2,076,631 Gantzer Apr. 13, 1937 2,106,365 Tiano Jan. 25, 1938 2,343,358 Anderson Mar. 7, 1944 2,559,358 Hullhorst et al July 3, 1951 

